After School
Garden Clubs * Cooking Classes
After School Gardening Classes – Garden Club
Gardens build community. This is our focus in creating an after-school gardening club activity. Gathering a wide range of school community members, students, staff, parents and other interested volunteers from the community is an amazing way to not only ensure a school garden is sustainable, maintained and healthy, it’s also a great way to create connection and community throughout the school.
Garden Clubs can also be offered to small home learning groups who are interested in learning more about growing food, sustainable organic growing practices or fun nature based activities. Up to 5 home learners and their families in the areas of North Burnaby (Forest Grove Elementary) or South Burnaby (Edmond’s Community School) are invited to join us. Contact us for more details.
Garden Clubs are offered to all students after school from Kindergarten to Gr. 7 with the exception that children ages K to Gr. 2 must attend with a parent or guardian. This helps ensure behaviour management but also helps develop a love for the school garden throughout the community. Family members are offered the opportunity to support the garden throughout the summer months including the ability to harvest veggies from the garden.
We are grateful for the ongoing sponsorship support of the McGrane Pearson Endowment Fund held at The Vancouver Foundation for the Forest Grove Elementary After School Garden Club as well as funding via the Burnaby School District for our program at Edmonds Community School. This support allows for a free Garden Club at Forest Grove to students and families.
Services for this program include:
- Registration and Attendance Tracking
- Communication and Marketing
- Facilitation of a Nature Based Activity in the garden: like the Seed to Table Program, fairy garden making, seed planting or re planting, watering, weeding, soil health, and other nature crafts.
Costs: $250 per session
After School Cooking Classes
Offered to schools and community groups with space that includes a working kitchen with access to a fridge, stove/oven, sink/dish washing area, and enough space to teach up to 20 students starting at age 9 to 13. Contact us for details. (We are currently at capacity for the 2024/2025 school year)
Our classes offer a unique way to develop basic life skills of knowing what foods are best for us depending on what our bodies need, what is best for the environment and what we can then share with our families.
We use as many seasonal and local ingredients as possible starting with what is growing in the school garden. Recipes have been designed for students to repeat at home with their families to ensure success.
Inclusion: Whenever possible, we utilize the help of Educational Assistants to ensure all learners are able to join us in the kitchen or gardens. This offers amazing opportunities for growth in the areas of self confidence, pride, and connection outside a regular classroom setting.
Classes are offered at 8 Sessions Per Season (Fall, Winter, Spring) at $350/student
Classes are taught by chef leaders with backgrounds in holistic nutrition and working with children. Each class features up to 4 recipes ending in a meal shared by the group. Recipes have included: sushi, pasta, salads, appetizers and snacks, lunch ideas, healthy breakfast ideas, smoothies, and ways students can help prep dinners.
Skills developed include knife skills, safe food handling, measuring, setting the table, washing dishes, reading recipes, working together as a team, responsibility, and table manners.
We have worked with other organizations to create connections to food
Study Buddies
Testimonials
